by Wendy R.

Created on: November 23, 2010

Tammany Hall, also called the Society of St. Tammany was a Democratic political machine in the United States back in the late 1700’s. Originally the group was founded as a social fraternity. However, this group or society became responsible for controlling a great deal of New York City politics. They were also responsible for the rise of immigrants in the city, in particular the Irish immigrants who rose to prominence in United States politics up until the 1960’s.

Tammany Hall was led by William “Boss” Tweed, a landowner in New York City who also the director of a railway, a bank, a printing company and a hotel. At one time, Tweed was a member of the House of Representatives and the Senate. A very corrupt man, Tweed used money and bribery to get what he wanted out of New York City and state government, leading to his stealing a great deal of money from New Yorkers. Tweed and his partners were ousted from New York state politics by reformer Sam Tilden a Democrat who ran and won the governorship of New York State in 1872.

Even with these setbacks, Tammany Hall continued to maintain a strong hold in New York City and in State politics. There strong hold was also felt amongst businesses and police. Some businesses would give workers presents, while telling the workers to vote for Tammany candidates.

 Tammany Hall was responsible for the control of Democratic nominations in New York City from the time of mayoral victory of Fernando Wood in 1854 through the election of Fiorello LaGuardia in 1934. La Guardia, a radical Republic who won the office of New York City mayor in 1934. Franklin Roosevelt, a reform minded Democrat became President of the United States and stripped Tammany of some of their power. He helped Firello La Guardia become the governor of the state and when La Guardia was re-elected not only once but twice as governor, the Tammany Hall hold began to slip.

Many of the programs that Tammany depended on to help them swing votes, including the Works Progress Administration and the Civilian Conservation Corps were disband, leaving Tammany on the brink of extinction. These programs which were part of Franklin Roosevelt’s New Deal had helped allow the Tammany Hall Society swing their votes through bribery. With the two New Deal programs gone, Tammany Hall began to collaspse.

Tammany Hall had a brief resurgence in the 1950’s but didn’t succeed thanks in part to Eleanor Roosevelt’s attempt to organize different groups to fight the political machines.

In the 1960’s former New York City mayor Ed Koch helped to prevent Tammany Hall’s control by creating the Village Independent Democrats.

Source: Wiki and http://www.nps.gov/archive/elro/glossary/tammany-hal l.htm

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